Wagon-gear.



W. P. GENTLE.

WAGON GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1915.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WHA/Wmo W. P`. GENTLE.

WAGON GEAR.

AP'PLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1915.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH CD.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

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WAGON-GEAR.

To all whom t may concern: l' y Be it known' that I, VALDQ P.. GEN'rLE, a citizen of' the United States, residingv at Hepler, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, haverinvented new and useful Improvements in Tagen-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to wagon constructions and more particularly to wagon gears. The invention 'aims to provide a wagon gear, whereinthe reach bar is capable of adjustment with a view of increasing or decreasingthe length ofthe wagon when desired. r

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel construction of a reach' bar, ltogether-with a novelconstruction of means for locking the bar in adjusted position.

Amongy other features the invention embodies simplicity in construction, durability and eiiiciency in use.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same residing Vin the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter` more fully described.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts inthe several views and wherein Y Figure 1 is a top plan view of Aa. wagon gear constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 9. is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line Lf-a, Aof Fig.y 1. Fig. t is a detail'perspe'ctive view of ythe wearjplate. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the clamp and locking element. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the connection between the reach bar and 'front axle. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line o o of Fig. 1.

Upon reference to the'drawings in detail, the wagon gear comprises front and rear axles 5 and 6 respectively, connected by .means of the reach bar 7, and a iifth wheel 8.

The reach bar is composed of spaced parallel pipes A and B respectively, each consisting of telescopic sections, the inner sections 9 being connected to the front aXle through the medium of a casting 11 in the form of a plate, through which the king bolt 12 is passed, the plate being formed with spaced parallel forwardly projecting lugs 13 of circular outline, which project within the 'sections Si a short distance, and are sei Specification of Letters'Patent. PatQntedSept-i. 21,191.5. Application flied March 12, 19,15. sei-mino. 13,954. i i

cured thereto by means of rivetbolts 14, the

latter extending transversely therethrough .j as shown.

The outer sections 10' pass between spaced superimposed plates 15 carried by the rear hounds C, which latter consists of lforwardly convergingbars 16, and securedv thereto by means of the lugs 1,7 pro jec'ting 'from the plates 15 through suitable apertures in said sections, thereby retaining said reach bar liXed with relation to the rear. aXle 6. VObviously by reason of this construction, the sections 9 and 10 of the reach bar may be extended 0r collapsed to increase or decrease the length of thewagon Vas the occasion may demand. l/Vith a view ofretainingythe sections 9 and 10 in any desired adjusted position, l employ what may be termed a duplex ring clamp 1S, the latter embracing the outer sections 10 of both the parallel pipes A. and B respectively. Rising from theV clamp 18 are spaced pivot lugs19 between which is pivoted a locking element 20, the latter having forwardly diverging branches 21 terminating in depending hooks 22 adapted to eX- tend through suitable apertures 24: in the telescopic sections oit each pipe, when these apertures are brought into registry, and a relatively broad -.lat manipulating portion 25. :Inter-posed -betweenthe portion 25 of the locking element and the clamp 18 is a spring-26 operating to normally maintain the manipulatingportion*elevated and the hook terminals 9.2 operatively associated withthe pipe sections in the manner hereinvabove described. Manifestly, it is` only necess'ary to depress the manipulating portion "'against the spring 26, thus moving the hook vterminals 22 out of engagement with the pipe sections, to permit adjustment of the latter, and subsequent to this adjustment of the sections the spring 26. operates to return the locking element to normal position upon release of the same.

. I further aim to prevent wear between the pipes A, B, and the fifth wheel, and to carry this idea into effect l employ a duplex semicylindrical member 27 for the reception of the parallel pipes A and B, the member being positioned as clearly shown in the drawing between the said pipes and the fifth wheel 8. The kmember 27 is mounted upon the rod 28, the latter passing through the center Wall 29 of the member and having a threaded forward end portion 30 for adjustable engagement with the threaded bore Si,

in the plate Il. The member is held upon the rod 28 between a fixed collar 32 and a nut 83 on the opposite end of the rod. The member 27 may be constructed from any suitable material for its purpose, itr being understood that this member serves yin the capacity of a wear plate for engagement with the fifth wheel, with a View of properly spacing the pipes A and B therefrom. Obviously by rotating the rod 2S in the proper direction, the member 27 may be adjusted toward or away from the front axle the required distance to properly position this member with respect to the pipes andfifth wheel.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be vthoroughly understood without requiring a more extended explanation, and therefore the same has been omitted. However I desire to have it understood that rI do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, Vas the same is merely illustrative of the invention, and that Various changes in this respect may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a wagon gear, front and rear axles, a rea'ch bar pivotally connected with the front axle and supported in fixed relationto the rear axle, said bar comprising telescopic sections, a clamp embracing said bar, anda spring pressed pivoted locking element supported by saidclamp for adjustment within registering apertures in said sections to retain the latter in adjusted position.

2. In a wagon gear, front and rear axles,

a reach bar pivotally connected with the front axle and supported in fixed relation to the rear axle, said bar comprising telescopic sections, a clamp embracing said bar and adjustable Alongitudinally thereon, and a spring pressed pivoted locking element supported by said clamp for engagement within regis" ktering apertures in said sections to retain the latter in adjusted posit-ion.

3. In a wagon gear, front and rear axles, a reach bar pivotally connected with the front axle and supported in fixed relation to the rear axle, and comprising spaced parallel pipes, said pipes including telescopic sections, a duplex ring-like clamp embracing said pipes, a spring pressed locking element carriedthereby, and said element having branches terminating in hooks for engagement within registering apertures in said sections for locking the latter in adjusted position.

e. In a wagon gear, front and rear axles, a fifth wheel, a reach bary connecting said axles, a member pivotally connecting the forward end of said bar to the front axle, a

rod adjustably connected with said Inembeil and extending rearwardly therefrom in parallelism with said bar, and a wear plate of corresponding configuration to said bar mounted on the rod and embracing said bar betweenthe latter and said fifth wheel. v

5. In a wagon gear, front and rear axles, a fifth wheel, a reach bar connecting said axles and comprisingspaced parallel pipes,

-a member pivotally connecting the forward ends of said pipes with the front` axle, a rod adjustably associated with said member and disposed between said pipes in parallelism therewith, and a duplex semicylindrical member mounted on said rod, embracing said pipes and disposed therebetween and said fifth wheel for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALDO P. GENTLE.

Witnesses: I

J. A. OWINGS, A. L. OwINes.

`Copies of .this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

